A daith piercing is a cartilage piercing close to the ear canal that requires special care to prevent infection. It must be placed by an experienced professional and can impede the natural passage of ear wax. Aftercare involves washing the site with mild antimicrobial soap and using a sea salt bath.
A daith piercing is an ear piercing that penetrates the ear cartilage very close to the ear canal. When well placed, it can also appear hidden in the ear, with only part of the jewelry protruding. Due to its placement, this cartilage piercing requires special care to prevent infection, and should be placed by an experienced professional who has received training in specialized piercing and placement.
To visualize a daith piercing, it may help to grab an ear for reference. If you place your hand on the small flap of cartilage in front of the ear canal, known as the tragus, and move your hand back, you’ll feel a fold of thick cartilage leading into the ear canal and bowl of the ear. This section of inner cartilage is the area used for this piercing, although piercings in other inner folds of cartilage or the bowl of the ear are sometimes also known as daith.
Because there is not a lot of room to work with when it comes to a daith piercing, this piercing must be placed with care, and not everyone has the anatomy to accommodate a daith piercing. A curved needle is often used, because a straight needle would be difficult to work with, and jewelry must be carefully selected to accommodate the swelling associated with new piercings without being uncomfortable.
Daith tends to accumulate dirt, which can be dangerous during the healing process. In general, aftercare involves gently washing the site several times a day with a mild antimicrobial soap and using a sea salt bath to promote healthy healing and reduce swelling. Because it’s a bit difficult to soak the area conventionally, some people accomplish this by soaking cotton pads in salt water and attaching them to the piercing, almost like poultices.
Keeping a daith piercing clean is important, as you don’t want to collect dirt and other material in your ear canal. The piercing can also sometimes impede the natural passage of ear wax, so it’s a good idea to gently rub the area once a week once the piercing is fully healed to keep the site clean.
If a daith piercing becomes infected, it is important to treat the infection to prevent complications or damage to the ear. In general, piercers recommend leaving piercings during treatment, to avoid trapping the infection under the skin, and medical attention from a physician is strongly recommended so that the infection does not become serious.
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